Flexible hermetically sealed X-ray film pack with elastic material in compression therein



3,291,984 FLEXEBLE HERMETICALLY SEALED X-RAY FILM PACK WITH ELASTICMATERIAL IN COMPRES- SION THEREIN Eric Sigvard Wasser, Kungsholmsstrand185, Stockholm, Sweden N Drawing. Filed May 27, 1964, Ser. No. 370,700Claims priority, applicationggveden, May 27, 1963, 9 9 1 Claim. (Cl.25068) The invention relates to an X-ray film pack comprising a coveringwhich is closed in air-tight manner at its edge and encloses an X-rayfilm as well as intensifier foils bearing against said film underpressure.

With X-ray exposures for medical and technical purposes, there areusually employed intensifier foils which bear on the two emulsion sidesof the light-sensitive X-ray film. When the X-ray radiation strikes onthese intensifier foils, they fiuoresce and produce visible light, whichacts on the X-ray film. In order in such cases to obtain sharp images,it is necessary that the contact between the intensifier foils and theemulsions of the X-ray film is sufiiciently good.

One known process for achieving such a good contact consists in that theintensifier foils, with the X-ray film disposed therebetween, arearranged in a rubber cassette and that thereafter the air is removedfrom the cassette. In this way, there is obtained a uniformlydistributed pressure over the entire cassette and the foils are pressedagainst the film. This method presupposes, however, that the cassettehas a valve and a suitable closure device; in addition, a suction pumpis required for the evacuation.

A more simple method of obtaining a satisfactory vacuum in an X-ray filmpack of the type initially referred to consists according to theinvention in arranging, between the covering and an intensifier foil, alayer of United States Patent 0 "ice an elastically compressiblematerial which is enclosed in the compressed condition in the pack. Inthe production of the pack, the insert consisting of film, intensifierfoils and the layer of elastically compressible material are placed in arubber sheath or in a sheath of soft plastic, thereafter a pressure isexerted on the sheath from outside, which compresses the layer ofelastically compressible material and then, while maintaining thepressure on the sheath, the latter is sealed, either by adhesives or byanother mechanical method, or if it is a plastic sheath, it is heatbonded. The result hereby achieved is that after the air-tight closureof the sheath and after removing the external pressure acting on thesheath, the external air pressure and the intrinsic elasticity of thecompressible material force the intensifier foil satisfactorily againstthe X-ray film. It is not necessary in this case to use a pump for theevacuation of the covering.

The elastically compressible material expediently consists of foamrubber or foam plastic.

What I claim is:

An X-ray film pack comprising a hermetically sealed envelope of soft andflexible material of the class consisting of rubber and plastic, andwithin the envelope an X-ray film, intensifier foils on either side ofthe X-ray film, and an elastically compressible solid material incompression between the envelope and a said foil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Q RALPH G.NILSON, Primary Examiner.

W. F. LINDQUIST, Assistant Examiner.

